Tuesday, Apr 26, 2011
Gulf News
Dubai The Syrian regime seems to have decided on ending the 40-day uprising by using its armed forces amid worldwide criticism of the use of brutal violence against its citizens.
The southern city of Daraa and its surrounding villages turned into a battlefield yesterday when army tanks sealed off the city at dawn and moved on to the streets to conduct a security operation. “More than 25 people were killed by troops as a result of this operation,” sources from Daraa told Gulf News.
“There are still bodies sprawled in the streets,” the sources said as the sound of explosions and gunfire echoed in the background.
The White House said sanctions against Syrian leaders, including President Bashar Al Assad, and their interests are a possible option. “The brutal violence used by the government of Syria against its people is completely deplorable,” White House spokesman Tommy Vietor said. “The US is pursuing a range of possible policy options, including targeted sanctions, to respond to the crackdown and make clear that this behaviour is unacceptable.”
During the day, the news spread about Syria sealing off its border with Jordan, which was denied by authorities. Jordanian officials said they are coordinating with their Syrian counterparts to ensure that there were no foreign infiltrators coming to join the uprising.
A leading Syrian activist said that the government has launched a war against the democratic movement.
Suhair Al Atassi, head of Dr Jamal Al Atassi Club for Democratic Dialogue, said Daraa, Douma and Maadamiya are witnessing a ‘savage war’ designed to crush Syria’s democrats. Al Assad supporters denounced Suhair’s statement and called the activist a traitor and an Israeli agent.
Right to protest
She said she was not worried about the consequences of her public criticism and would be available in her home in the Damascus suburb of Dummar.
The head of the UN human rights agency yesterday demanded an immediate halt to the killings in Syria.
“The government has an international legal obligation to protect peaceful demonstrators and the right to peaceful protest,” High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay said in a statement.
See also Page 14
Unequal battle Above: A man throws an object at a tank in Daraa on Sunday, in this video image taken from amateur video and released by Sham News Network, a Syrian Freedom group.
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Fleeing from bullets Left: Protesters run for cover after shots were fired during a protest in Damascus in this image taken from an amateur video footage uploaded on social networking websites.
By Duraid Al Baik ?Associate Editor
Gulf News 2011. All rights reserved.
